It’s a Wednesday, and librarian Lynn Moschel is reading to Group 1 at Children’s School. She holds up a book called Bats at the Library, rotating it around for the 6-year-olds in the front row on their knees, some pointing at the illustrations, all matching her cheer.
While all the attention seemed to be focused on the Amphitheater, the Hall of Philosophy and Bratton Theater during Week Seven, a dramatic performance was also playing out on Sharpe Field. Four teams in the men’s league contended for softball supremacy in a week long bout of comebacks and generational rivalries.
At 4:15 p.m. today in the Garden Room of the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall, young readers will be joined by Brian Castner, the Week Eight prose writer-in-residence for the Writers’ Center and author of the 2013 Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection The Long Walk.
After a storied, undefeated season of crushing wins and incredible comebacks, the Batgirls finally succumbed to the Moms in a 14-8 defeat last Thursday, proving once again that, even in softball, mothers know best.
At Chautauqua Opera Company’s third showing last month of its family-friendly “Alice and Alex in Operaland” at Smith Wilkes Hall, there was barely an empty seat in the audience.
Sitting criss-cross in the middle of the teepee, Chautauqua Children’s School teacher John Denton debriefs the audience on the upcoming egg-hatching operation it is about to endure. Kneeled down like a gargoyle, Denton looks over to the trolls-in-training, the students, and his fellow teachers to deliver the news.
Over these past seven weeks at the Institution, the Chautauqua Golf Club has teemed with enthusiasm over this landmark year. Last Sunday, that escalating excitement reached its crescendo with the Golf Club’s 100th birthday celebration.
Elizabeth Karslake “E.K.” Smith tried to suppress a smile as raucous laughter erupted from the Boys’ and Girls’ Club crafts classroom. The protagonist of her most recent book, Alien Dude! and the Attack of Wormzilla, had just committed a heinous act, and Smith, for the sake of storytelling, was obliged to utter the “f-word” for the Group 2 boys and girls.
It’s been 12 years since the Children’s School debuted its annual “Troll Play,” in honor of Chautauqua’s birthday and to raise money for Old First Night.
They had all assembled for a single purpose: to ring in another Chautauquan milestone with a gallop around the grounds. Nearly 900 men, women and children gathered in front of Sports Club to celebrate Chautauqua’s 140th birthday with the Old First Night Run/Walk.
